2. Carefull prouision for their soules bodies praying with their families dayly Ps. 127. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 4. 5. Ier. 10. 25. 3. Paying their wages duely with the better Iob. 31 38. 39. 11. Seruants dueties 1. Faithfulnes for their maisters profit with al wisdom as Iacob Eliezer Ioseph 2. Subiection in seruice abiding correction as the Angell bids Hagar Gen. 16. 8. 9. 12. Schoolemasters duties 1. Practising painfully constantly most profitable courses Rom. 12. 7. for the speedier furnishing their schollars 1. Cor. 12. 31 14. 12. with the best learning manners to the greatest good of the 1. Schollers 2. Church 3. Countrie 2. Drawing them on to loue and honest emulation Eph. 6. 4. with rewards Col. 3. 21. vsing moderate correction abhorring crueltie Pro. 12. 10. 3. Indeuouring especially to bee a patterne to them of all vertue Psal. 101. 2 ◠Tim. 4. 12. as being alwaies in their eyes so to procure more true reuerence to themselues blessing to their schollers 13. Schollers duties 1. Strife to excell their fellowes in 1. Learning 1. Cor. 12. 31. 14. 12. 2. Manners 3. Obedience Phil. 4. 8. 9. 4. Loue to their master 6 Commandement Thou shalt not kill commanding by all meanes to preserue life of body Soule Here we are to examine how we indeauour to performe all these duties with more conscience 1. Which may preserue or make this present life more comfortable 1. Procuring and vsing al helpes therunto as holesome diet and clothing 1. Tim. 5. 23. 2. Holy mirth reioycing in al our labours and at all times in the Lord. Pro. 14. 30. 15. 15. 17. 22. And this by keeping alway a good conscience which is a continuall feast Phil. 4. 4. for the ioy of the Lord is our strength causing good health 2. Co. 1. 12. Neh. 8. 10. Eccl. 3. 12. 13. and a principal part of our portion in this life Rom. 14. 17. and of the begining of the kingdome of heauen Rom. 13. 4. Pro. 22. 3. 3. Seeking all holy meanes of refuge against all violence and danger as our Sauiour especially flying to the Christian Magistrate as to Gods lieutenant 4. Helpe of the Phisitian and surgeon Mat. 9. 12. 5. Exercise 1. Tim. 5. 23. 2. Auoyding as warily all things hurtfull and perillous as 1. All contagious diseases Pro. 22. 3 2. All euill purposes of offering violence to our selues or naughtie wishes vpon discontentment 1. Pet. 5. 8. 9 and therein flying all prouocations Iam. 4. 7. furtherances and occasions thereof Gen. 3. especiall solitarinesse or reasoning with the temptation or any way harkening thereunto 3. Rash aduentures without a warrantable calling Mat. 4. 6 7. 4. Worldly grief Pr. 17. 22. which dryeth vp the bones and causeth death 2. Cor. 7. 10 5. Anger and enuy which are the rotting of the bones Pr. 14. 30. 6. Surfetting intemperance and excesse which kill more then the sword Pro. 23. 29. 30. being causes of innumerable diseases and griefes 7. Prouoking others to the hurt of our selues as Iosiah did to the king of Egypt 2. Chr. 35. ◠20. 21 22 23 24. 2. Concerning the life and comfort of our neighbour 1. Earnestly seeking peace with all men so farre as is possible as Abraham and Dauid And to this end labouring to attaine to these vertues which are most auaileable to gaine loue euen from our very enemies do much adorne Christianitie 1. Curtesie without dissimulation as Abraham to the Hithits 2. Meekenesse in suffering forgiuing and forgeting wrongs leauing vengance to God Rom. 12. 19. Eph. 4. 32. 3. Labouring to ouercome enemies by kindnesse Rom. 12. 20 21. seeking occasions to gratifie thē at least praying for thē that they may obtaine mercye and haue their hearts changed 4. Dealing iustly with all that we may weare their reproach as a crown as Iob. Samuel Iob. 29 31. 5. Abounding in compassion and good workes as our Sauiour 6. Aduenturing boldly for their defence and deliuerance and much more for the Church of GOD and our country as Abraham for Lot Dauid for Israel 7. Offering seeking reconciliatiō where it may stand with the credit of the Gospell the saluation of the party and others Mat. 5. 23. 24. 2. Auoyding as carefully all occasions of the contrary as 1. In heart Vnaduised anger Eph. 4. 27. whereby wee first giue place to the Deuill to enter into our hearts 2 Malice or hatred 1. Ioh. 3. 12 which is murther before God especially Cains hatred for the good things we see in men although we pretend other causes of our hatred This is the ordinary sin of the world Mat. 10. 22. Ioh. 15. 19. 1. In wordes 1. Bralling and rayling as Shemey and Rabsakey 2. Crying out against others or reuiling vncharitably Eph. 4. 31. 3. Threatning or skoffing at thē Esay 58. 9. 2. In deeds 1. Fighting blowes maymes danger Leuit. 24. 19. 2◠2. Crueltie 1. Punishing vnmercifully Deut. 25. 3. 2. Oppressing the poore to make them wearie of their liues Iere. 22. 17. Tit. 14. 2. Titus 3.2 3. Denying helpe or reliefe as the priest and Leuite Luke 10. 31. 32. 4. Betraying other as Iudas 3. Sheading innocent bloud Gen. 4. 8. which defileth the land and cryeth for vengeance Num. 35 33. By 1. A weapon as Ioab slew Abner 2. Sam. 2. Poyson inchantment destroying the conception or any secret practise Num. 35. 31. 3. Consent as Saul to Stephens death 1. King 2. 31. 4. Sauing the wilfull murtherer 2. Concerning our soules or spirituall life wee are to examine how we increase in care 1. For the sauing our owne soules by 1. Walking more warily in this narrow way of life Pro. 16. 17. 2. Auoyding all those things which tend to the destroying of our soules that so much more carefully as the soule is more excellent then the bodie eternal life then this and eternal death more fearefull as 1. To liue in any one knowne sin Rom. 6. 23. for the wages of the least is death eternall Gal. 3. 12. will certainly destroy the soule Psa. 34. 12. 13 14. if it be liued in with delight Pro. 11. 19. Ezek. 18. 11. Iam. 2. 10. Mat. 5. 19. 1. Iohn 3. 8. 2. To neglect any meanes ordayned to saluation Heb. 2. 3. as hearing the word preached ordinarily c. whereby men become dead Apoc. 3. 1. hauing a name to liue or at least loose their ioy or feeling Psa. 51. 10. 11. 12. 2. Concerning the saluation of others 1. Taking euery occasion which the Lord offereth for procuring or furthering the saluation of others 1. Cor. 10. 33. and so pleasing all in that which is good to edifie Pro. 11. 30. because he that winneth soules is wise Dan. 12. 3. and shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament for euermore Iam. 4. 17. but hee that
indure in this life are sanctified hereby to be to me Fatherly 1. Exercises 2. Chastisements 3. Trialls 4. Fulfilling of Christs afflictions 5. Meanes to confirme mee to Christ my head Rom. 5. 3 Heb. 12. 11 6 7 8. Apo. 3. 10. Col. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 29. 6. Examples to others 3. This also warrants the soundnes of my faith herein Gal. 6. 14. 1. Because I feele my selfe to profit in Christianity by my afflictions and crosses Psa. 119. 67 71. 2. I desire to take pleasure in such suffrings for Christs sake 2 Cor. 12. 20. 3. Because the old man in mee beginnes to bee crucified with Christ Gal Phi. 1. 29. 2. 19. 5. 24. Dead 1. This is my faith 1. Cor. 15 55. 56. 57. that Christ hath died for my sin and by dying hath ouer come death and so taken away the sting thereof that it cannot hurt any of those that beleeue in him 2. This comfort I finde hereupon that death shal be so far off from hurting mee Phi. 1. 23. 2. Cor. 5. 1. 2. that it is already sanctified by this death of my Sauiour to be to mee the gate of life 3. This also increaseth my assurance that my faith is sound herein because I finde together with this comfort that euery sinne hath receiued his deaths wounde in me each beginning to dye and for that I feele a power by Gal. 2. 19. Christs death Phil. 3. 10. to triumph against the terrors of death Col. 3 2. waiting for it when I haue finished my course Phil. 1. 21. 23. wishing to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ. Rom. 7. 24. And buried 1. This is my faith that Christ was buried for me both to assure me of the certaintie of his death for me and that all my sinnes are buried in his graue yea withall to bury sinne in mee Rom. 6. 3. 4 and to sanctifie my graue to bee a sweete bedde for my body to rest in vntill the resurrection Esay 57. 2. 2. This very faith is my ioy and moreouer that my sinnes thus buried shal neuer come into remembrance to accuse or condemne mee Rom. 8. 34. 35. or to hinder Gods euerlasting mercy loue from me 3. This also furthers my assurance for that together with this ioy I feele many sinnes buried in me Col. 2. 11. 12. and consuming daily by the vertue of this death and buriall of my Sauiour especially Rom. 7. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. the strength and delight I tooke in euery sinne He descended into hell 1. This is my faith that Christ suffered not only in his body the punishment due to my body but in his soule also the tormēt due to my soule which I should haue indured for euermore Mar. 14. 33. 34. and that not onely vppon the crosse Luke 22. 44. but also in the garden as appeareth by his speeches his pravers Heb. 5. 7. his crie his agony and bloody sweate and so hath for me triumphed ouer hell 2. This is my comfort that though I stood euer in danger of eternal death for all my sinnes yet now by my Sauiour I am deliuered from the terrours thereof Heb. 2. 15. 3. This is further for my assurance hereof Ioh. 3. 14. 15. for that I haue receiued comfort in this onely Num. 21. ◠euen then when the paines of hell haue gotten hold vpon mee for my sinnes and because I feele a desire to saue others also from that place of torment by leading them to this my Sauiour Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and haue now entred the narrow way to heauen following my Sauiour therein Mat 7. 13. 14. hauing left the broad way going to destruction 5. Article The third day he rose again from the dead 1. This is my faith that my Sauiour hath fully satisfied the iustice of his father for my sinn euen to the vttermost farthing Rom. 4. 25. in that he rose againe because any one sin of his elect not satisfied for had kept him in death 1. Cor. 15. 15. 56. 57. seeing he tooke vpon him to become surety for them all 2. This is my ioye that thorough him I am iustified and stand as righteous in the sight of my God all my sins being vtterly done away Rom. 4. 25. and couered hereby 3. This helpeth my assurance hereof for that besides this comfort Eph. 2. 5. 6. I feele my selfe also raysed vp to a desire of a perfect holinesse Phil. 3. 10. Apo. 20. 5. 6. 6. Article He ascended into heauen 1. This is my faith that when my Sauiour had fulfilled all things in the earth for the redeeming of his church he went vp into heauen Luk. 24. 51 both to prepare the way Act. 1. 9. and also to take possession and to keepe it for mee Ioh. 14. 2. 2. This is my ioy that none can hinder mee from thence Ioh. 17. 24 but where my Sauiour and head is there shall I bee also This ratifieth my assurance for that my affections are already ascended beeing set on things that are aboue Col. 3. 2. And sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty 1. This is my faith Mat. 28. 18 that my Sauiour hath all power giuen him ouer all sorts Iohn 17. 2 to giue eternall life to whom he will Eph 4. 8. 10 and condemne the rest sittes as King at the right hand of his Father filling his Church with his gifts guiding it by his word and spirit vntill he haue glorified it Esa. 54. 10 59. 21. and subdued all his enemies 1. Cor. 15 24. 25. conuincing them by the light of Nature his workes 1. creatures 2. iudgmēts 3. mercies word 2. This is my comfort that he will guide me by his word spirit continually Phil. 1. 6. ouer-rule whatsoeuer Sathā or the wicked can doo against mee 1. Pet. 1. 5 to serue for my good Esa. 8. 16 against thēselues 3. This is also for my further assurance herein because I feele my selfe desirous to be guided by the direction of his holye spirit speaking in the word and moreouer Esa. 30. 21. I heare a voyce behind mee saying This is the way Esa. 59. 21. walke in it when I turne to the right hand or to the left 7. Article From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 1. This is my faith Ioh. 5. 22. that my Sauiour shal come to be the iudge of the whole world Ro. 14. 10. to iudge euery one according to their workes 2. Cor. 5. 10 2. This is my ioy that though I did and doo naturally quake so oft as I heare or thinke of the terrible iudgement Act. 24. 26 yet remembring the iudge 2. Thes. 1. 10. who hath by himselfe satisfied for all my sinnes so taking them on himselfe and giuen me his owne absolute righteousnesse I can
Ioh. 5. 11 12. and withall he hath giuen me a heart to heare his voyce with delight Iohn 10. 27. 28. so that I shall neuer perish yea my faith herein is such that I account all things but losse and dung in respect of Christ Iesus my Sauiour Phil. 3. 9. and al the troubles of this life Rom. 8. 18. not worthie the glorie Phil. 3. 13. 14. that shall bee then reuealed vnto me so striue hard forward towards this marke labouring alwaies to keep a good coÌ„science both toward God man Luk. 20. 35 that I may euer be prepared for the ful fruitioÌ„ hereof couÌ„ted worthy to enter through the gates into the Citie Apoc. 22. 14. This is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Be thou faithful vnto the death and I will giue thee the crowne of life Apoc. 2. 10. Here is the patience of Saintes here are they which keep the commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Apoc. 14. 12. I haue sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements alway Psal. 119. 160. Then shall I not be confounded when I haue respect to all thy commaundements Psal. 119. 6. Lorde increase my faith Luke 17. 5. Mar. 9. 24. The benefits of this practise of examination to incourage vs vnto it sith it is wearisome and vnpleasant to flesh and bloud 1. Performing it aright wee shall avoid al hardnesse of heart luke warmnesse Ps. 119. 6. 80. 101. 104. sleeping in any sin and preuent an euill conscience with many other punishments of sinne Lam. 3. 39. 40. and withall we shal be able to recouer our selues forth with out of euery grosse sinne and from Sathans power yea euen from the gulph of deepest dispayre Psalme 32. 4. 5. 2. We shall dayly be putting off the old man and putting on the newe strippe vs off the ragges of our sinnes and put on our wedding garment Eph. 4. 21. 22. 23. 24. to make vs still more glorious in the eies of our bridegrome yea we shall caste away the workes of darkenesse and put vpon vs the armor of light Rom. 13. 12. 3. Being thus armed wee shall be so inabled to watch continually Eph. 6. 11. 22. 13. 14. 15. c. and defend ourselues against Sathan Mat. 4. 11. and all his power that he shall neuer giue vs any deadly wounds Iam. 4. 7. but we shall put him to flight RoÌ„ 16. 20. and in time trample him vtterly vnder our feet 4. We shal be able to see the good way and wherein the perfection of a Christian consists Pro. 2. 9. with his true glorie and felicity in this life Psa. 1. 1. 2 and to reioyce in them that are such 1. Ioh. 1. 1 2. 4. and withall to behold the feareful state of the world Ps. 119. 136 to mourne for it with iust Lot 2 Pet. 2. 7. 8 so to iudge aright betweene the godly and the wicked Luk. 19. 41. 42. and specially to iudge for our owne estate Phi. 1. 9. 10 5. We shall be fitted in some measure according to our place and calling as wee are Christians to teach conuince admonish reproue exhort and comfort both our selues and others 6. We shall be inabled to pray for our selues and others Rom. 15. 14. with the whole Church of God 1. Thes. 5. 11. 24. according to our seuerall necessities Ioh. 15. 7. 1 and after the will of God in faith 1. Ioh. 5. 14 â—â— 3. 22. and withall to make a most sound confession of our sinnes generall or particular with feeling and so most seweet thankesgiuing for all mercies with a like comfortable profession of our faith 7. We shall so grow in Christ and repayre his image as by beholding obseruing our selues 2. Pet. 1. 10. 11. we shall get most strong consolation 1. The. 1. 3. 4. 5. that wee are true branches of that holy vine liuely meÌ„bers of Christs body Iohn 15. 1. 2. 7. 8. the very sheepe of his fold to stand at his right hand and hence most certaine assurance of eternall life sealed vnto vs by his holy Spirit 1. Tim. 4. 8. hauing in the meane time all the promises of this life 1. Cor. 3. 21. 22. 23. and that to come all being ours and for vs. 8. Seeing our growth in grace perceiuing what sinnes wee haue ouercome Rom. 5. 10. and what graces we haue obtained Gal 3. 3. we shal be incouraged to striue forward to perfection Heb. 10. 32. 33. vntill wee obtaine the ende of our strife 2. Tim. 4. 7. 8. the crowne of glory Apoc. 2. 9. 10. 9. Wee shall shine as starres in the world Phil. 2. 15. to the greater glory of our god the comfort and good ensample of Gods seruants 1. Pet. 2. 12. 15. the conuersion of the wicked or stopping their mouthes and leauing them more without excuse 10. We shall increase the brightnesse of our glorie in heauen Dan. 12. 3. as wee haue more glorified God in the earth Rom 2. 6. 7 for the practise of this examination in the course of our life Mat. 19. 28. 29. is a spirituall sowing 2. Cor. 9. 6. whereof wee shall in due time reape a plentifull haruest if wee faile not Gal. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Wee shall be sure to gette and keepe a good conscience wherof such peace boldnesse securitie and heauenly ioy will follow in vs Pro. 15. 15. as passeth all vnderstanding Rom. 5. 3. 2. 3. and no carnall man can possibly feele Phil. 4. 7. but onely those for whome the kingdome is prepared 2. Cor. 1. 12 because it is the beginning of it in this world Ro. 14. 17. 12. Briefly which is the summe of all we shall get this assurance that Iesus Christ is our Sauiour anointed for vs our King Priest Prophet hauing made vs also Kings and priests Apo. 1. 6. to our God for euermore 1. Pet. 2. 9. Some necessary questions appertayning hereunto 1. Of senselesnesse in sinne Quest. Can any man liuing without feeling of his sinne and misery by it or of his spirituall pouerty haue any sound hope of his saluation by Christ Ans. No. Christ is a phisition onely to them that are sicke Luk. 4. 18. a deliuerer to them who feele themselues in prison Esa. 61. 1. calls them only that trauell Mat. 11. 29 30. and are ready to faint vnder the burthen of their sinnes Of obstinacy in sinne Q. Can any who continue stubbornely in any one sinne not submitting themselues to bee ruled by the word of Christ and his ministers in all things hope for eternall life by Christ or the fauour of God A. No Mat. 16. 24. 25. they that come to Christ must followe him forsaking themselues Luk. 9. 23. taking vp their crosse dayly